London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hampstead 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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| Particulars. | Number of cases in which defects were found. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Found. | Remedied. | Referred to H.M. Inspector. | |
| Want of cleanliness (S. 1) | 32 | 30 | — |
| Overcrowding (S. 2) | — | — | — |
| Unreasonable temperature (S. 3) | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Inadequate ventilation (S. 4) | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Ineffective drainage of floors (S. 6) | 8 | 8 | — |
| Sanitary Conveniences (S. 7)— | |||
| (a) Insufficient | 3 | 3 | - |
| (b) Unsuitable or defective | 4 | 4 | - |
| (c) Not separate for sexes | 4 | 3 | - |
| Other offences against the Act (not including offences relating to outworkers) | 31 | 31 | — |
| Total | 90 | 85 | 2 |
During 1949 no prosecution was instituted under the Factories Act,
1937.
Water.
The Borough's water supply is provided entirely by the Metropolitan
Water Board and has been satisfactory in quality and quantity. No
complaint of contamination was received.
All the dwelling-houses in the Borough are supplied from public water
mains direct to the houses. There are no wells or stand pipes.
Bath Waters.
Samples of water were regularly taken from the Hampstead Swimming
Baths. These proved to be satisfactory.
Rodent Control.
Rats and Mice Destruction Act, 1919.
Rats and Mice Infestation Order, 1943.
B. Matthews, foreman rat-catcher, perhaps better known as Hampstead's
"Pearly King," retired on superannuation after a lifetime of
service with the Borough Council. He was transferred to the Public
Health Department from the Highways Department on the inception
of the Infestation Order, 1943. Matthews was a very experienced
" Pied Piper " and well known to all old Hampstead residents.
There are now two full-time rat catchers employed by the Borough.
The number of complaints of rodents received during the year was
597, of which 290 related to rats and 307 to mice. Complaints relating
to mice are increasing.
As part of a campaign embracing the whole country, the sewers were
treated on two occasions in January and June, a total of 1,236 manholes
being prebaited and poison baited.